DWIGHT Yorke believes Ruud van Nistelrooy must accept that Sir Alex Ferguson acted in the best interests of the team when leaving him out of the Carling Cup final victory over Wigan.

Van Nistelrooy was an unused substitute in the 4-0 win at the Millennium Stadium and looked glum as his team-mates celebrated around him.

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Yorke - a striker earlier in his career with the Red Devils - was left out of the 1999 FA Cup final by Ferguson and while he recalled it being a tough decision to swallow he realises the canny Scot did the right thing.

Yorke told BBC News 24: "I remember in the treble-winning year we went to Wembley where we were playing Newcastle (in the FA Cup final).

Sympathise

"(Ferguson) came into my room that morning and said `I'm leaving you out'. It wasn't very nice because as a player you want to play in every game, and I can understand and sympathise with the gaffer, and every time he makes these decisions he's right.

"That proves the team is more important, and he has got results. I can understand Ruud being upset being the top scorer, I was in a similar position and (Ferguson) assured me that I was going to play in the final.

"I was disappointed because you want to play in all the crucial games, and being top scorer Ruud might feel a bit hard done by. But it's not often the gaffer gets it wrong and he got a result.

"I'm sure Ruud has a future at United. As the top scorer at the club you expect to be out on the pitch from the start and that is what this is all about, so he would be disappointed about it.

"But the gaffer knows the team is more important and got the right result. There aren't many times he has got it wrong."